GREEN TEA GENERAL INFORMATION

Does Green tea contains caffeine??
Yes, green tea does contain caffeine. Caffeine content varies by the type of tea, amount of tea used and the length of time the leaves are infused, however if compared to other drinks such as black tea or coffee, The caffeine in green tea is usually much less. You may be happy to learn that Sencha has only about 30 mg of caffeine per cup, compared to 50 mg in black tea, and 110 mg-175 mg in coffee. You can also reduce the caffeine up to 80 percent by pouring out the first infusion of water.

What's the difference between Powdered Sen-cha / Kona-cha (coarse tea) and Matcha?
The difference lies in the process and type of leaves used. Whereas regular powdered Sen-cha/Kona-cha are made from Sen-cha leaves, Matcha green tea is made instead from the same leaves as shade-grown Gyokuro.

Powdered Sen-cha is coarsely ground after the Ara-cha-making process.
Kona-cha (coarse tea) is the same as powdered Sencha, except the stems, buds and leaves are taken out after.
Aracha processing. Konacha has vivid dark green color and refreshing taste. It is the choice of tea at many Sushi restaurants.
Matcha is the green tea used in the Japanese tea ceremony. Matcha is not rolled like Gyokuro, however, but is instead processed so that only the soft, inner parts of the leaves are used.
The grind follows Matcha - Powdered Sencha - Konacha (Coarse tea) from extra fine to coarse.

What is the most important element to infuse Japanese Green Tea?
Water, temperature, amount of tea leaves used, steeping time, freshness etc.... There are many elements to be considered. We believe water, temperature and amount of tea leaves are the most important factors to brew Japanese green tea.

Japanese water is soft* which is suitable for infusing Japanese green tea. North American water tends to be bit harder than Japanese one however it is much softer than many of European water and it is still good to brew Japanese green tea.

* Harrd-water vs. soft-water: Water hardness is measured by the amounts of calcium and magnesium in the water, and waters are classified as soft or hard depending on the total amount of those minerals. Hard water must contain high amounts of dissolved calcium and magnesium, where soft water contains less amounts of calcium and magnesium. You can use tap water for brewing tea if it is boiled well. Boiling of water eliminates the smell of Chlorine.

What is the best water for Japanese green tea?
It is not recommended to use hard water* to brew Japanese green tea because the flavor and taste cannot be fully built up. Try to use soft water that contains fewer minerals.

The Best-Recommended Water (Examples of Soft Water)

Whisthler (Canada)
Aberfoyle (United States)
ICE AGE (Canada)
Alaskan Glacier Gold Water (United States)
Crystal Geyser (United States)
Rocky Mountain (United States)
Aquator (Canada)
Bourassa Canadian (Canada)
Volvic (France)

What is the difference between Japanese and Chinese green tea?
Japanese and Chinese green teas both come from the same Camellia sinensis tea plant. The main difference is the way the leaves are processed - Chinese harvesters pan fry the leaves in a large wok - Japanese green teas are steamed, dried and then rolled into various shapes until they are completely dry. This is an efficient method for preventing the oxidation of flavenoids and polyphenols that gives green tea its flavor and health-enhancing properties.

How to get maximum health benefits
It varies from person to person. Some researchers who have studied green tea health benefits recommend large 2 to 5 cups per day. Green tea contains Catechin, Vitamine A, C, E, and other minerals, but Vitamine A (carotene), Vitamine E, and fibres are not water soluble. Therefore, the best way to take advantage of the great benefits of green tea is simply eat the whole leaves. Our whole leaf powdered tea is soluble in hot or cold water, so you can easily take all the health-enhancing properties of green tea. You can enjoy iced green tea anytime if you keep it in a fridge. And the color, flavor, and tastes are the same with the hot water green tea. Simply pour cold water over a tea bag in a pitcher and keep it in a refrigerator. One tea bag makes 1L of iced green tea.

Is buying a Japanese teapot necessary?
It is not necessary, however it is ideal. An ordinary teapot should suffice if drainer was attached to it. A Japanese teapot has a wire or nylon mesh screen inside that has been engineered for efficient tea infusion. Refer how to brew page. Japanese green tea contains fine, powder like leaves, so drainer is strongly recommended and also keep in mind that Japanese tea leaves need a space to expand when infuse; please don't use black-tea spoon drainer to infuse Japanese tea. Japanese tea leaves may appear small and skinny, but once it absorbs water, it needs a much more room to expand the leaves. We offer a tea infuser in "Tea Accessory" section. The bottom of the infuser has a V-shape for efficient steeping.